Automatic compensating magnetic clutch.



s'rrrrns :sanear carrer..

ALONZO W. WHITCOMB, OF WORCESTER,. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO WHITCOMB- BLAISDELL MACHINE TOOL COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OTE-MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC COMPENSATNG :MAGNETIC CLUTCH.

To all 1li/10m it may concern Be it known that I. Anolvzo XV. lYm'rcoxm, a citizen of the lnited States, residing at -forcesteig in lche count)r of 1orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Automatic Compensating Magnetic Clutch. of which the following is a specification..

The principal object of this invention is to provide a transmission for transmitting power at different. speeds by means of an improved form of automatic compensating magnet-ic clutch.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings in which,

l[*"igure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a transmission constructed in ac.- corcance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an enlarged scale of one of the units of the transmission. Fig. fis an elevation of the clutch showing the shaft in section. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the armature of the clutch. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the ratchet ring adapted to engage the armature. Fig. 6 is a face view of part of the armature. Fig. 7 is a plan of a switchboard diagrammatically illustrating the electrical connections. Fig. 8- is a side view partially7 diagrammatic of an operating lever and electrical connection for use in connection with an automobile. Fig. 9 is a plan of the Asame showing the lever 1n sect-ion, and Fig.

10 isa diagrammatic view showing the connections from the several clutches.

Referring to the drawings and in det-ail to 'the first seven figures, a driving shaft A .is

arranged in alinement with, and telescoped at A into a driven shaft B.- Mounted to run looselyr 'on the driving shaft or to be clutched thereto, as will be explained hereinafter, are two gears 10 and 11 of d iierent sizes, constantly meshing with gearsrlQand' 13, respectively, keyed to a counter or transmissionv shaft 'CJ Also arranged on the driving shaft is a loose gearv 14 meshing with' u reversing gear 15 whichin turn drlves a ear 16 keyed on,V the .counter-shaft.. lOn the riven shaft B are loosely arranged two gears17 and 18 of different' sizes con'tantly meshin with gears 19 and 2O Vfixedon the transmission shaft ,These 'parts' `are shown as contained within a. 'casing' 21. Th

shaft B si:4 a point n Specification of Letters lPatent. A

ts end where it errv fateli-ted. Mar. 18, 1913.

application med July a. 1911. serial Nl. 636,516.

gages the shaft A, is supported by a ball bearing 22 arranged in a support which also carries a ball bearing 23 for the shaft C. Other bearings may be arranged, as shown in the ends of the casing to supportthe shafts A, B and C. i 'i As illustrated, the gear 10 issmaller than any of the other gears on the shafts A and B except the gear 14 which may be either smaller or larger than the gear 10. The gear 14 is comparatively small relatively to the gear 16. The gear 1S`is considerablv larger than the gear 17 and also larger than the gears 10 and 11. The counter-shaft is driven only when one of the gears 10, 11 or 14 on the shaft A is xed to that shaft bv one of the clutches hereinafter described. 'l The relative speeds are obtained as follows :M1133y locking'the gear 10 to the driving shaft` and the gear 18 to the driven shaft, the slowestdriving speed is obtainedy hetween the driving and' the driven shafts.y B v locking the gear 11 to the'fdriving shaft and the gear 18 to the driven shaft, the

next fastest speed is obtained. Bvlocling the gear 10 to the driving shaft and the gear 1T to the driven shaft, the-next fastestspeed is obtained. As the parts are 'arrangedft-lie next speed is obtained. bv locking the drivand driven shafts directlyv together, as

hereinafter describedrwhen a direct' drive will be obtained, The. fastestV speed is oh,`

tained by locking the gear 11 tothe driving l shaft and the gear 1"( to the drivenwshaft.

Thus, speedcan be transmitted from `the,

driving to the driven shafts so thatthe driven shaft will-turn inthe same direction as the driving shaft attive ditlerent speeds. the fourth relative speed being a direct or synchronous drive between the driving and .1T is locked to the driven shaft `which will givea faster reverse.v Thus five speeds,` inV cluding a d1re`ct,dr1ve .andl,twocfreverse speeds, can beobtamed. #Il

Y o eiiect thelocking ofthefgearsinzlthis manner and to provide an arrangement therefor; comprising few parts and offen. l

character that the mechanism inside the cas? Iting is reduced in size and con'iplieation, the "following arrangement 1s employed lach of the gears 10, ll, .14, 17 and 18V is keyed otherwise fined,A on a sleevfe"wliieh sleeves are freely rota-table on theshafts A and B. The construction'of the clutch used in 'connection'. with the :sleeve 30 for the gears l1 is'illustrated in the second sheet of the drawings and a description thereof will.

apply toallthe .clutches with the`l exception of details hereinafter mentioned. Each l n sleeve has aninternal friction clutching member 3l which forms part of a clutch. 'f lhe friction clutching.member is shown as comprising `a series ofspokes 32 radiating rrom the sleeve 30,. each spoke having iY segmental member 33 .at yits outer en'di. These segmental'members 33 .together substantially make up a complete circle. lach f is provided. with a beveled snrfaceil; on the exterior. 4toward 'the lower or inner edge of the bei@ .eled surface and are formed of resilient ma# teri'ah 'When' there'is. a relative longitudi-l The spokes: are slightly dished i" on a cylindricah electro-lnagnet1havinga4 arranged so that the ring can turn `one direction relatively to the arijiature but not inthe other direction.

'chamber 37 thereifnfor the windingsor coil.

The electrovmagnets vare keyed :tothe shafts on whichfthey arevarran'ged. t'. Each sleeve 30 is provided with an. eX-

ternal screws-thread 3,8 on which threaded" a sleeve 39 provided with an outwardly eX- tending flange 40. rlhis flange 40 foi-insithe armature.2 The flange 40 is provided onits vside .opposite the magnet with a circular ratchet 4,1. Fitted on the huby 39` vis afringy 42 having/ratchet `teeth "43 engaging 'fthe `teeth y'41. The teeth 4l and 43 are mmh@ Extending from the ring 42 are pinsl45 which are loosely fitted in perforations sockets 46 `in thespokes 32. Springs "47 surround the pins 45 and normally force the ring 42 toward "the armature' andy keep 4the ratchet teeth 4l and 43 in engagement; lht'e f armature is provided with a series of perfo-l rations 48 through which headed boltslft"l ,are passed. y.'llhese, bolts screw into plungers or plugs .50 @which normally project slightly beyond the. lsurface of' the "armature '40.

49 and tend to press tlie plugs outwardlyso as to force' thearmature and magnetapart;4

until theheads of thei'bolts."49J est" oh, shoulder formed on limit the movement of the armature away shaft.u

"given "to sthe'...clutching *members 31.-

izoaeceaa from the magnet. By4 this arrangement, thel armature 40,tthe1hub 39,fand spokes 39 and Vthe frictionferlgagingsurfaces 33 practically form one part which is movable on the When the electiounagnetis energized7 the -ari'nature is drawn toward' the magnet.

This, brings the clutching member surface 34 against the conical. inner surface' of the outer clutching member lWhen these .surfacesmare .brought into contact7 the pull of the geectro-magnet tends to draw the armature andhencethe sleeve 30 still far ther toward ithe magnet and this tends to straighten the dished spokes 32. This eX- pands tlieiniier friction surfaces 34 against 'the friction surface of the outer member 35.

As then spokes are resilient, they will yield 4to .thisAY` action and thus` the inner friction member will be outwardlyexpanded with ampowertul .radial .thrust against the outer friction member. This continues until the frictionalzcontactwith thetwo surfaces is Venough to cause the t\\'ome1nbers vtorotate synchronously so that the final drive issecured by the frictional contact'between these surfaces. f

Then the electro-magnet isr released, the

sppke Qassume their normal position and the s ngs 5l force the clutch members apart until the collar 52 engages'the heads of thebolts 49.. The plungers l (lbearihg on the core ofthe elec'tro-magnet actias a brake as this actiony takes place Sand .prevent the armature running ahead. `f The springs y47 normally keep the ratchets41 and 43 to- Agether` when the clutching surfaces are engaged, and when the clutching surfaces are disengaged and the heads of the. screws 45) are in Contact. with the shoulder 52, the springs 5lv additionally will,-helpkeep the ratchet teeth together. The arrangements describedffilso provide an [automatically operatingrad'justing mechanism foruthe clutch en'gagine Esurfaces. l

i rsffthe clutching nisurfaces are. engaged, if the arriidture should contactmwith the surface of the electrofmagnet" before there was iii-'in eng;nement,y the. frictionof the armature ont 1e w surface of the electro-magnet will tui f" ithe armature: relatively to the sleeie b3tlvandff'hence l'will .-.adjaist the armature relatively@to'y the clutch member 31 sov thatfacontinued/pull will beexercised on the armature" and, a heavier radial thrlnst he ratchets will'sustain this athustmeiit. The finaloper'atien ofthese parts y.will be such vthat the ."arfmature l nland..clutch ,la engaging Springs'l are arranged around these 'bolts -mei'ribverfjly willassumwjust suchposltion as verly engaged, the armature' will" just clear the face of the 'electro-inagnet After the farinatureand clutch engaging member 31 have' assumed .this relative position, lthey 4will keep' the same by reason of the ratchetl mechanism until wear of the friction engaging -surfaces'c'alls for a further adjustment, when the armature will be automati-` cally adjusted one or: -more steps of the ratchet toward the friction engaging member31.'m A M' #1 The, coil 54 of the electro-magnet is con' nectedat one terminal with the casing 36 in which it is located, so that that terminal is connected throughthe shaft either directly with the rest of the circuit or to the ground. The other terminal is connected with a' me# tallic ring 53 which is mounted on the casing 36 and insulated therefrom by insulating rings'55 vheld in position' by screws or bolts. A spring-pressed brush 56 held in a holder 57 mounted on the main casing 21 is ar-` ranged to bear on the ring 53. .1 f V The description so far given `applies lto five clutches numbered 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, threeof them being onthe driving shaft and two on the driven shaft." Another clutch, numbered 4, of the same character, is shown fore- 'connecting the two shaftsA and B.vl The electro-magnet of this clutch is keyed to the driving shaft A, while the spokesdthereof are formedon a hub 59 'which is'keyed `to the shaft IB. In this case the screw-threads corresponding with the screwthreads 38 are formed directly ron the end of the'I shaft B p and the armature 40 is connected with these 35.

screw-threads in thesameway, as shown in Fig. 2..

, The six conductors which'lead from the sii:` brush holders corresponding with the same 4number-of clutches, are brought to a switch board 60fand connected with the terminals thereof in.. the manner indicated by the vnumerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, as applied to the contacts on that board.-' -[t will be seen that two of the contacts arie connected wit-hthe clutch numbered 1, twot with clutch. 2, two with the clutch 3, one with clutch 4, andv threeeach-fwith the clutches 5 and 6. On the switch board is ai controlling lever 62 adapted to swing on a pivot which forms a terminal. i. Thus the controlling lever will' complete the'circuits by contacting. with the terminals thereofl which are arranged with respect to the arcl over which the'lever swingen.;

As shown, the lever 62 is in its neutral position. On its first movement to the left, clutches 2 andg will be engaged. By this arrangement, power' willv "be transmitted from the driving tothe driven shaft through' gears ',110, 13, 20 and 18. This will give speed, depending on the different ratio between the gears 10 and 12 and 11 and 13. As theflevei" 62de moved t6 its next position to the left, clutches-#and 2 will be engaged.- Power will now be vtransmitted .from the' 'represent diagrarriin'a/c'ctlly the.

driving to thev driven shaft through gears l, .,v

`connected and poweilwill be taken from the drivinglto the drivenshii'ft through gears 11 l0, 12519 `and 17,' which gears are-arrangedrf.v to give an increased speed.`

and 13v and 19 and 17, which gearing is arranged so that the driveipshaftwill now be rotated Iat a speed higher than the driving shaft.. u I

-1 Starting again withy thel lever 62 at its neutral .p ositioif,J as indicated in'Fig. 7, and assumingitfffto be moved on its first. step toi-thelrightfclutchslMand 6 will besconnected.'=i "'l`his' will trans-init ypower froirnthe driving ,to' the driven shaft in a reverse .'fdirection through gears-121', 15, and 16 and 2O and 18. When'the lleverj62 is 'moved to its extremeZ position t!) the right *lutches 5 and l will be connected and 'powerwill be takenv fromthe drivingtotliedriven shaft ina reverse direction to gearsr 14, 15, 16,19 and 17,

which will give a reverse-m'veinent at a higher speed relatively to the first reversing movement Thus," provision is made for tive forward speeds, the fourth forward speed being a'directdrive and the fifth speed a 4fasterfdrive; and for two reverse speeds; `The particular arrangement of gearing andL` parts is Iihrely illustrative of my invention and other forms Lmay'bedevi'sd having a less number (if clutches, if it ism'l'f" not desired to "obtain the,l large number of u changes previously indicated. It will be i seen, therefore, ythat iveiforward (the fourth of whichv'is a clutch drive) and two reverse f l speeds can be obtained in this way in a comparat-ively simple manner by the use of ya small amount of `:mechanism in the casing,y and,` that while the clutches are magnetic,

los

the zpowerful force of conical friction clutching surfaces is utilized `for the act-ual drivl inv. mgnetic attraction exerted axially in such a way as to have a1 most powerful effect by reason of the resilient 'character and .dished shape lof the spokes by reason of the v automatic adjustment described. It will be,

seen, also, that it is impossible for the operator to inove thecoiitfrolling arm from a low ,v speed to 'a high spccdt'or kfrom the reversev to a direct drive without necessitating the passing of the clutching devices through'all the intermediate steps, although the 'rapidity with which this'can be done is no-t restricted.

In the forniv shown Figs. 8, 9 land-"l0,

a different, and the vpreferredcontrolling device is illustrated. Intliis form t-he circuits are connected gp, `as indicated diagramri'iatically in "110,7"n lwhic1i ,.the circles l several clutch brushes. In this case theJ controlling device comprises a plate 68 having al number of slots 69. Oneach side of each slot These surfaces are drawntogether by (except one) are contact members 70, each of which is connected with one of the brush holders or binding posts 57. llhe numerals in Fig. 9 indicate the particular brush holder orelectro-iiuignet with which each one of these contacts is connected. Itwill be seen that in the case of the slot second from the upper end in F ig. 9, only one of the conductors is connected with a binding post, as this is the slot for controlling the connection of the two shafts directly. In this .case the other side of the slot is connected with the ground to complete the circuit.

For the purpose of controlling the con tacts, a lever 7l is provided wliich,\if the mechanism is to be used in an automobile, may be conveniently arranged as a foot lever. This 4lever is pivotally mounted on a pin 72 and is held normally in its retracted or engaged position by a spring 73. The

` lever 7l carries contacts 'Zet-F74 which engage 4the ,contacts at the sides of the slots when the lever is in operative position. nBy

this arrangement, the clutches can be con-v nected up to give any of the speeds in the manner indicated by the connections.

Mounted on the shaft 7 5 is a segment 76, the end of which is toothed and engages a pinion 77 which ycontrolsa switch which is constructed as follows z-Turning with the pinion 77 is a plate 77,0 which carriestvvo contacts 78 and 780. The extreme motion of the switch is limited by pins 79-79. Contact or pole pieces 80, 8l, 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 are arranged in position to be engaged by the contacts 78 and 780. v

87 designates a suitable source of electricity which may be a dynamo or a battery. As the part-s are shown, the foot lever is depressed and the contacts are moved clear of the pole pieces. As the'foot lever is moved opposite one of the slots and as the same moves into the slot, the contact piece 78 will connect pole pieces 8O and 8l and the Contact piece 780 will connect the pole pieces and 88. A line wire 88 is connected with the pole piece 8l and a line wire 89 is connected with the lowesty pole piece 82. The pole piece 8i is made in the form of a number of contacts separated by resistances 90. Then the circuit iscompleted in this way, the current will flow from its source 87, pole piece 85, contact 780, pole piece 83 through the resistances to lowest pole piece 82, line wire 89, contact 74 to one clutch, depending on the adjustment of the lever 71, to ground; back through ground, through another clutch, the other contact 74, line wire 88, pole piece 81, contact 78, pole piece 8O to the source. The continued movement of the switch will then move the contacts 7 80 so that it will connectthe pole pieces 84 and 83 and the contact 78 so that it will ccnnect the pole pieces 8l and 86. The current will -now flow from itssource through pole noeaeae piece 86, contact 78, pole piece 81, line Wire 88, contact 74, one clutch, ground, back through another clutch, the other contact 74, line wire 89, resistances 90, pole piece 88, contact 780, pole piece 8 and back to 70 the source. This will cause a reversal of the current. As the switch continues its movement, the resistances i90 gradually will be cut out and the contact piece 780 will finally rest on the lowest pole piece 82 and m forming vpart of the clutches, in thezoppol" site direction to get rid of any residual inagnetism therein which wouldtend to'gcause the clutches to operate. Thus by the' anV rangements described, the clutches are thrown into operation lin properorder. v

Many other arrangements may be devised for practising my invention without departing from the scope thereofA as expressed`7 in ,95

the claims. v Having thus fully described my invention,l what I claim is .Y

hln a transmission, the combination of,y a driving and a driven shaft arrangedin 1 alinement, three gears looselyV arranged onV said driving shaft, a counter-shaft having gears meshed with the three gears on the driving shaft, an intermediate gear being arranged in one of said trains, a driven 1 shaft having two gears thereon, two gears on the countenshaft meshing therewith, and magnetic clutches arranged in connection with each of the gears on the driving and driven shafts. l 1 2. In a transmission, the combination of a driving and a driven shaft arranged in alinement', three gears Vloosely arranged on said driving shaft, v`a counter-shaft having gears meshed with the three gears on the l driving shaft, an intermediate gear being arranged in one of said trains, adriven shaft having two gears thereon, two gears onthe y count er-sliaftmeshing therewith, and mag-g netic clutches for locking the driving and driven shafts directly togetherand for lock-v ing each gear on the driving and driven shafts. A 3. ln a transmission, the combination of a driving and a driven shaft in alinement,

-iixed with respect to each of said sleeves,

gears i'iXed to the counter-shaft, each meshing with one of the gears on said sleeves, 1

electro-magnets fixed to the driving and driven shafts, each adjacent to' one of said sleeves and each having an armature, and rneans'whereby the attraction of any armature` toward its magnet will clutch the cor- A responding sleeve to the magnet and thus flx'the gear on said sleeve to the rotating Shaft.

4. In a transmission, the combination of a driving and a driven shaft in alinement, a counter-shaft, a plurality of'sleeves loose on the driving and driven shafts, a gear fixed with respect to each of said sleeves, gears fixed to the counter-shaft, eachA meshing with one of the gears on said sleeves,

electro-magnets fixed on the driving and driven shafts, each adjacent to one of said sleeves, and each having an armature, means whereby the attraction of any armature toward its magnet will clutch the corresponding sleeve to the magnet, and means vvfor simultaneously energizing a magnet on the driving shaft and one on the driven shaft, whereby the driving shaftv will rotate the driven shaft through the counter-shaft.

5. In a transmission, the combination ofa driving and a driven shaft, a countershaft, a plurality of sleeves loose on the driving and driven shafts, a gear Xed with respect to each of said sleeves, gears fixed to theA counter-shaft, each meshing with one of the gears on said sleeves, .electro-magnets fixed 'on the driving and driven shafts, each adjacent to one of said sleeves, each magnet having an armature, a casing in which said of any one of said brushes with the driving and driven shafts through a source of electricity will cause the corresponding electromagnet to be energized, and means whereby the attraction o f any armature toward its magnet will clutch the corresponding sleeve to the magnet.

6. In a transmission, the combination of a driving and a driven shaft in alinement, a counter-shaft, a plurality of sleeves loose on the driving and driven shafts, a gear fixed on each of said sleeves, a plurality of gears fixed on the counter-shafts, a gear xed oneach of said sleeves, a plurality of gears fixed on the counter-shafts, each meshing with one of the gears on said sleeves, a series of electro-magnets fixed on the driving and driven shafts, each adjacent to one of said sleeves, each magnet having an armature, means whereby the attraction of any armature toward its magnet will clutch the corresponding sleeve to the magnet, means for simultaneously energizing a magnet on the driving shaft, and a magnet on the driven shaftto cause the driving shaft to rotate the driven shaft through the countershaft, a similar electro-magnet fixed at the end of the driving shaft, and having an armature and a clutch surface, a clutching member fixed at the adjacent end of the driven shaft, and means whereby when the armature is attracted toward the last named electro-magnet, said clutching member will lengage said clutch surface and directly connect the driving and driven shafts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO W. WI-IITCOMB.

Witnesses:

' EVA L. VARREN,

C. Fonnnsr WnssoN. 

